Top talent added to fight card
JAMES Mulheron and Colin Fletcher lead the latest names announced for Bellator Newcastle in February, while Terry Brazier and Chris Bungard will go head-to-head in an exciting domestic dust-up at lightweight.
Bellator make their return to Tyneside on February 9 where it was already announced that Ryan Scope would headline against Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire, while Aaron Chalmers will feature in the comain event.
But today the top mixed martial arts promotion added a stack of new bouts, with plenty of fighters from this region getting their chance to shine on the big stage.
Added to the prelims is South Shields heavyweight Mulheron who was previously signed to the UFC and will now look to prove himself one of Bellator’s best. Mulheron (11-2) will take on Arunas Andriuskevicus (14-4).
Meanwhile, after one bareknuckle boxing fight recently, Colin ‘Freakshow’ Fletcher has also been added to the card. The UK MMA veteran will take on Mehrdad Janzemini (9-3) at welterweight.
From Team Fish Tank, joining Scope and Mulheron on the card is Sunderland bantamweight Cal Ellenor.
He returns to fight in the UK after a successful spell signed with top South African promotion EFC, which agreed to release him from his deal to allow him to sign with Bellator for this Metro Radio Arena show. Ellenor takes on Nathan Greyson.
Rounding up the North East fighters announced so far, heavyweights Darren Towler and Paul Elliott will both be in action.
Knockout specialist Towler, from Newcastle, will take on Karl Etherington, while Middlesbrough’s Elliott – undefeated in three – takes on Mindaugas Gerve (3-2).
Finally fighting out of Ian Freeman’s Machine MMA gym in Newcastle, Bailey Gilbert (2-3) has accepted a tough assignment against London’s highly-touted Dominique Wooding (5-2).
But it is not only fighters from the North East to get excited about.
Bellator have added a number of other clashes to the card, included two interesting bouts on the main card.
That starts with the lightweight bout between Brazier and Bungard. Brazier is a former BAMMA champion while Scotland’s Bungard has a reputation for excitement, finishing 11 of his 13 wins early.
Meanwhile, also on the main card is exciting Birmingham middleweight Fabian Edwards.
Brother of UFC fighter Leon and training partner of Chalmers, Fabian will look to make a statement in Newcastle against MMA veteran Lee Chadwick (24-1-13).
On the prelims, Welshman Lewis Long might be a name familiar to North East MMA fans after his thrilling contest with Tommy Quinn at MadeForTheCage 17 back in 2015. He’s in action against returning former UFC competitor Jim ‘Judo’ Wallhead.
Tickets are now on sale to the public and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.co.uk and Bellator.com, as well as the Metro Radio Arena box office.